Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave [his] wife [behind him], and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
Master {G1320}, Moses {G3475} wrote {G1125} unto us {G2254}, If {G3754}{G1437} a man's {G5100} brother {G80} die {G599}, and {G2532} leave {G2641} his wife {G1135} behind him, and {G2532} leave {G863} no {G3361} children {G5043}, that {G2443} his {G846} brother {G80} should take {G2983} his {G846} wife {G1135}, and {G2532} raise up {G1817} seed {G4690} unto his {G846} brother {G80}.
"Rabbi, Moshe wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and have children to preserve the man's family line.
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.
Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave a wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
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Deuteronomy 25:5
¶ If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. -
Deuteronomy 25:10
And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed. -
Ruth 4:5
Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy [it] also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. -
Ruth 1:11
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? [are] there yet [any more] sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? -
Ruth 1:13
Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. -
Genesis 38:8
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
Mark 12:19 presents the Sadducees' challenge to Jesus concerning the resurrection, using a hypothetical scenario based on an ancient Israelite law. This verse specifically quotes the law of levirate marriage, setting the stage for their attempt to discredit the concept of life after death.
Context of Mark 12:19
This verse is part of a series of confrontations Jesus faced in Jerusalem during the final days before His crucifixion. Following challenges from the chief priests and scribes, and then the Pharisees and Herodians, the Sadducees approach Jesus. The Sadducees were a Jewish sect that held to the written Torah but rejected the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels, and spirits. Their question, therefore, was not seeking truth but intended to trap Jesus, exposing what they believed to be the absurdity of resurrection through a complex social dilemma.
Historical and Cultural Background: Levirate Marriage
The law cited by the Sadducees, known as levirate marriage, is found in the Old Testament, specifically in Deuteronomy 25:5-6. This custom (from the Latin levir, "brother-in-law") stipulated that if a man died childless, his brother was obligated to marry the widow. The first son born from this union would be considered the heir of the deceased brother, ensuring the continuation of his name and inheritance within the family line. This practice was crucial in ancient Israelite society for preserving family identity, property, and lineage, and was particularly significant for the concept of "raising up seed" unto the deceased brother.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The term "Master" (Greek: didaskale, διδάσκαλε) is a respectful address, though in this context, it's used by the Sadducees with an underlying challenge rather than genuine deference. The phrase "raise up seed" (Greek: anastēsē sperma, ἀναστήσῃ σπέρμα) directly translates the Hebrew concept of providing an heir to continue the deceased brother's name and heritage, emphasizing the perpetuation of the family line.
Practical Application and Significance
Mark 12:19, while detailing an ancient custom, serves as a setup for Jesus' profound teaching on the nature of resurrection. His subsequent response (in Mark 12:25-27) reveals that in the resurrection, earthly institutions like marriage, designed for this mortal life, will not exist in the same way. This interaction teaches us the danger of limiting God's power or understanding His eternal plans based solely on our present earthly experiences and interpretations of Scripture. It encourages us to consider the spiritual realities that transcend our current understanding and to trust in God's power to bring about new life beyond death.